Jake “Jack Swagger” Hager, the 44-year-old former WWE and AEW star, went straight into emergency eye surgery last Thursday following his loss to Johnny Magna at Slap Fight 23. UFC president and Slap Fight co-founder Dana White dropped the update to reporters after Tuesday night’s Contender Series MMA event, and it sounds like Hager’s eye injury is no joke.
The Aftermath of Slap Fight 23
White didn’t pull any punches, confirming the severity of Hager’s injury and the immediate actions taken. “He went into emergency surgery that night,” White stated, adding a crucial next step: “and then we’re sending him to a specialist down in Miami.” That’s not a casual trip, folks. When you’re talking emergency surgery and a specialist in Miami, you know this is serious stuff. Hager took a beating, and now he’s got a long road ahead with that eye.
Hager’s Journey from the Mat to the Slap Ring
Before stepping into the Slap Fight ring, Hager built a massive career in pro wrestling. He signed with WWE in 2006, going by Jack Swagger, after dominating in wrestling and football at the University of Oklahoma. He snagged a world heavyweight championship, an ECW title, a United States championship, and even won the Money in the Bank ladder match during his time there, which spanned until 2017. After WWE, he dipped into MMA with Bellator from 2019 to 2020, going 3-0 with one no contest. He also had a run in AEW from 2019 to 2024, notably with Chris Jericho’s Inner Circle and Jericho Appreciation Society. Hager retired from pro wrestling last year and made his Power Slap debut in April 2026, beating Devin Jenkins at Power Slap 19. Since then, though, he’s hit a rough patch, losing to both Johnny Magna and Amanpreet Singh, known as Mahabali Shera.
It’s a tough break for Hager, who’s been a warrior in every sport he’s tackled. You gotta wonder what’s next for him after such a serious injury and a trip to a specialist. Hopefully, the recovery is quick, and we hear some positive news soon!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
Leave a Reply